As a child I was fortunate enough to be raised within my homeland at Waiaua, and Omarumutu which is to the east of Ōpōtiki and today, I am a Full-time teacher at Ōpōtiki Primary School.

My Aspirations for my Iwi will be to have a local curriculum for teachers in our rohe so we can educate our children about the history of Whakatōhea which I believe is an important part of who we are as a person and as an Iwi.

I Am Whakatōhea to me, it means that I will stand proud to be of Whakatōhea descent and to teach my own children, nephews and nieces about where we are from.